You could get a friend or loved one a gift card or write them a check, but MintLife suggests an alternative: Give the gift of investing. That way your gift accrues value over time and offers the recipient a chance to learn and plan for their future.

MintLife (the official blog of Mint, a service we love) notes that depending on how much risk you want to take, savings bonds and interest-bearing CDs make great long-term gifts that start off small but accrue steadily over the years. If you want your recipient to get a crash course in stocks and mutual funds, shares in an exchange-traded fund (ETF, or a mutual fund often traded like a stock) or a few stocks of their own are a good idea.

We'd all like to be more responsible with our money, but budgeting can take a lot of work.…
Read more Read more

The end result is a relatively inexpensive gift (depending on how much you invest) that can add up to a much more valuable one later. Plus, your gift gives the recipient—especially if they're young or are having trouble saving for their future—an opportunity to get started.